Cullen stepped into the room before Sunny, his tension rising in his shoulders and from what she could hear, was making itself known in the form of him grinding his teeth and his hand rubbing at his pommel again. But to tell him to leave now may have been detrimental to the task at hand and maybe himself.
She eyed the mages in the centre of the room, all whispering amongst each other, trying to work out who she was and what was happening. The templars lined around the outside of the room, but Cullen did not leave her side and join the others, she noted he nodded to the knight-commander and stepped a couple of steps back from her. The magic crackled in the room, the tension and fear palpable she could cut through it with a knife. She made a show of adjusting her hair, taking it out of the braid and allowing it to flow down her back, giving her an air of other, of power. As she used her magic to sense the room, and heard the jostle of Cullen's armour as he adjusted his vambrace against the itch of his skin.

"In this room there may be a blood mage." The whispers went deathly quiet. "And the heir to the Ferelden throne has sent me to restore order to the circle. Considering that blood mages sent the circle into disarray, my orders are to dispose of any others that remain." A gasp resounded around the room and shouts of protest.

"We did not agree to this!" Irving stepped forward, angered. "We just needed to know if there were any left."

"There is one" Sunny let that disinterested tone settle in, she knew it riled people up more, made them prone to mistakes. The templars all passed fleeting looks between each other. Simultaneously their hands went to their swords but didn't draw. "What is your plan, Grand Enchanter? As you know, your failing to deal with your blood mages has brought me to darken your doors." She moved the air around the room to blow out a few of the candles around the room, darkening it, drawing up more fear. As she looked at her nails, the epitome of nonchalance. "You did not deal with that mage Jowan and he went on to poison the Arl of Redcliffe. Thus, bringing me back here. Your way is too soft Irving. I say we kill the blood mage and show the rest that blood magic is neither a way or a means to achieve an end."

"Who are you to judge us? Just some knife ear? What are you, a Dalish?" a young girl shouted across the room puffing her chest as she did so.

"Why do you argue?" Sunny turned to the girl, looking her up and down slowly, watching as she crumbled under her stare. "You are not a blood mage" the young girl fell to her knees, holding onto the older mage beside her. She watched as it went through all their heads and clicked into place. She knew who it was. She was toying with them. "Now, I'll give you a simple choice. Surrender and be killed or I start killing the people in this room from left to right" she started to inspect the other hand of her nails, frowning. Irvine and even Greagoir stepped forward to calm down the room and protest.

Irvine was arguing in defence of the mages as Greagoir was saying no one would be hurt.
"We can talk about this, Sunny" Irvine pleaded.
"No one is dying today" Greagoir all but shouted.
Cullen watched Sunny closely, she was ruthless, she was treating these people like they were little more than livestock. Her features did not falter until she met his scrutinising gaze and her eyes turned down for a second, was she ashamed? Was this just a torture method she had been subjected to and had utilised it herself. She opened her mouth as if to say something to him when a scream shattered the tension.
"I AM NOT DYING HERE!" A scream from the right. She had a small blade slicing her palm. The air crackled with magic and a horrifying squelching noise erupted as the blood shot straight at sunny. Barely thinking Cullen jumped in front of Sunny, his shield raised, angled slightly down. But the hit of magic did not reach his shield, and an uneasy silence swept over the room, he let out the breath he had been holding anticipating the hit and saw a plume of air. It had turned deathly cold. His sweat had frozen on his brow. He looked over his shoulder to see sunny still standing there how she was, not one hair out of place and then lowered his shield. He thought his vision distorted, thought he was having another panic attack about to pass out when Sunny's hand pat his shoulder and he noticed it was a wall of ice that he looked through at the now squirming mage. Both of her arms encased in the ice, kicking to get out, looking at her fellow mages. For help or for who had frozen her.
"It's alright" Sunny whispered to Cullen, and she watched as he tried his best to relax. She walked around him, a hand on his shoulder following down his arm as she passed. The mages all looked to the grand enchanter as the source of the ice. But he looked just as shocked. Sunny snapped her fingers. And the wall crumbled away into nothing. Leaving the mage to bring her arms to her chest. "Blood magic is a lie. It will not make you stronger. Even if it had you would still be no match for me."

"Was this necessary? She attacked you out of fear for her own life?" Irving panted as he crossed the room to stand between Sunny and the blood mage.
"But… she didn't need to use blood magic, did she?" Sunny stated as she patted dust off her arms. "You tried to talk it through, even the Knight-Commander was willing to talk. That is the startling difference between a mage and a blood mage. They think what they want is worth the cost"

"But-but the wardens said I could live my life if I stopped" the young mage stuttered

"Well, one, you haven't stopped. And two, I am neither a warden nor sympathetic to your cause." Sunny shrugged.

Cullen watched her dumbfounded, he couldn't believe such magic was encased in such an unassuming small form. She threw up an ice wall without an incantation or even moving. Mages at her skill could level entire towns.

"Do not glare at me, Knight Templar." Sunny spat at Cullen. "I am no mage, do not brand me as such." Cullen shook his head and his face relaxed. "Irving, Knight Commander, I suggest you deal with your mage now. I would kill them. But the warden explicitly told me that it was up to you on how you deal with them." She turned to Cullen signalling for him to leave the room with her.
"We are human too." the blood mage shouted after Sunny.
"You gave up your humanity the moment you gave yourself over to a demon." she turned to Cullen, "I wish to rest now."
She followed Cullen silently through the tower towards the barracks, they had two main rooms, Cullen and a few other recruits in one barrack and the others in the remaining room, half full with the deaths of the other templars. She could feel Cullen sneaking glances at her, a little bit more wary. His hand not far from his blade, like he could act quick enough to stop her if she wanted to kill him. He showed her to the barracks, there were two main dorms with beds set out against the sides with 20 beds each, with little privacy. Though the men left after the tower fell were few so they could fit in one if they wanted.
"You can sleep here with us," Cullen said, unsure. She wondered whether he was unsure because she could wield magic, or because she was a woman, though female templars were not unheard of. "We will dine in the main hall a few floors down. Dinner will be served soon and breakfast is usually served early if you wish to eat with us."
"Thank you" she bowed her head slightly as she spoke. "Would a bath be too much to ask for?"
"Ah, ah no of course. My apologies. That room at the end of the hall is where you can wash. It is.. um. It is communal." He turned away. She thought he was blushing. "I can ask the men to stay out at that time"
"It's fine. But thank you."

Sunny dined with Cullen and a few other Templars in silence. A few wary glances sent her way but it was not something she wasn't used to. She was meant to stay out of view most of the time, she didn't need anyone recognising her, lest it trigger the blood magic that would try to take her life. Once they realised she didn't age and wondered where she came from, were there others like her. That would lead to the death of her people. Though it would kill her too.
She dropped off what little she had in the barracks that had fewer people in and made her way to the bathroom. The tub is already filled with water. Cullen must have requested it. And the water was hot. But not as hot as she liked. So she stripped and got in, placing her hand on the outside of the tub and called fire to her fingers. Slowly, the tub heated. She could feel herself relax. As she started to work out some of the stress from her muscles and moved her shoulders in circles, washing herself with some of the soaps left behind by some of the templars. A sea salt and sandalwood soap, she breathed it in on her skin, it smelt vaguely familiar. She grabbed the towel left aside for her and dried herself before wrapping her hair in the towel. Her hair slightly damp, she decided on a braid before making her way to the barracks in the clean men's shirt and small pants left aside for her. Opening the door she saw a note that said 'Please wait, Lady inside' she smiled as she took it off the door. And turned it round before putting it back.

She walked back, her steps soft on the stone, it had been a while since she had stayed somewhere this penned in. It would take a big jump out of a window or running down a lot of stairs to get out of here quickly. She wondered if she would need to or whether they would let her leave. As technically she was an apostate to them. Alistair did not have the throne yet. Before she knew it she was back at the barracks and went to the bed with her belongings on. And sorted her pack ready for tomorrow's departure. She was eyeing her map and what route she would take when Cullen came in. He passed a glance her way but turned almost immediately to the armour stands, undressing and leaving the room with his towel.

If she went through the Bannorn and Hinterlands she could get to Alistair quicker. But there were few paths to stick to and she didn't know how far the darkspawn had spread. Cullen came back, his chest bare, a towel around his hips. His hair is already drying into curls. She looked too long as she noticed a blush on his face. So she occupied herself with her map again.

"I need to travel to Denerim for some supplies. If you are going to the Brecilian forest, we can travel together by horse" Cullen spoke with his back to her, she watched as his muscles rolled in his shoulders as he dried himself.
"I… you are ok travelling with me?" Sunny asked. His face in the harrowing chamber told her he didn't like her. He didn't trust her power as a mage.

"Of course I am" he seemed confused by her question. "We can only take the one horse though, I wouldn't want to traipse across Ferelden back here with another in tow, during a blight." Her brow furrowed. She had told him that she would not ride with him, but she wouldn't expect them to hand over a horse either.

"I do not ride passenger" her voice was quiet.

"Well, it's an offer. You don't have to travel with me" he kept his back to her, she couldn't see his face but his voice showed his annoyance.

"Thank you" she nodded at him as he chanced a look over his shoulder. He didn't know whether that meant she was coming with or not, and he couldn't be bothered to ask either. It was late and he turned in to sleep. Sunny stayed up charting her path, although it would take longer it would be a safer route to travel the main roads. Across Ferelden to Denerim and then south to the Brecilian Forest. It would be quicker to just cut through the Bannorn but she didn't know how far the darkspawn had spread, and didn't want to draw attention to herself travelling alone and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake.

She was about to turn in for the night when she could hear Cullen tossing and turning in his sleep. He was having a nightmare. Small whimpers and breaths being sucked through his teeth. The other few Templars that shared this room at the other end had gradually left the room the louder his whimpers became. None had been there with him. None had seen what he had seen. Until it was just Sunny and Cullen.
Sunny got up after a while and sat on his bed by his side. A hand on his brow. He was cold and clammy. She lay down beside him and closed her eyes. She would go and see him in the fade and see if there was anything she could do to ease his suffering. She held his hand loosely, he would be easier to find in the fade this way.

What she was met with was something she would not wish on anyone. The demons. The blood. The death. And in the centre of it all was Cullen. In the demon's makeshift barrier. Crying out for them to leave him be. They were using the form of a woman to torment him. Someone she assumed he had liked from the circle. She walked over to him. Her feet echoed against the anguished screams and his wide eyes turned to face her.

"A new way to torment me is it," he yelled. "I will not be broken."

She did not say anything but her mouth pulled down into a frown. She placed her hand on the barrier between them. She could break it down easily, but it may not be the best way for her to help Cullen.
"It's alright Cullen. It's just a dream." She made her voice as soft as she could. As if she was speaking to a small child.

He scowled. "You just want me to lower my guard."

"Hush. I'm not going to hurt you." She kept her face as neutral as she could. Trying to keep the pity out of her eyes, he was a proud man and she would not wound him further. He still refused to listen to her and she could not blame him. So she sat down with her back against his barrier. "I will wait then." Time passed oddly in the fade. She didn't know how long she sat there waiting, she did what she usually did in the fade. Pulsing her magic to keep away the spirits and demons that traversed this plain. And gradually everything faded. The screams, the fire, the demons.

"W-When? How?" He stuttered.

"I'm not a demon, knight Templar. It is me, Sunny. I have done my best to calm your dreams. I do not like the fade myself, so I keep it away, much like I have done for you" she watched as he started to relax. And everything faded.
Cullen woke slowly, his senses gradually returning to him. He felt warm, warmer than he would normally be in his cot. His arms tightened and he felt something he held close to him. Something soft and breathing. His face against something soft and silky, that smelt like his soap. He opened his eyes and looked down to see the top of an auburn coloured head, a pointed ear poking through the soft tresses.

"You are awake now?" Her voice was quiet, raspy like she was thirsty.

His grip around her tightened as she spoke. How did she know he was awake? Why was she in bed with him? Had they slept together? He couldn't remember. She pushed slightly against his arms. Hinting to him that she wanted to get up. He let go and sat up abruptly behind her, giving her a none too flattering glare as she turned to face him.

"Calm yourself, knight Templar. I lay next to you simply because it was easier to find you in the fade to stop your whimpering. Or I'd never have gotten any sleep." Sunny bit out. A bit harsh.
His cheeks flamed. How dare she address him so casually, he looked around and noticed the rest of the Templars beds were empty. Had they moved into the other dorm again?
His cheeks flamed anew as she got up beside him, crossed to her bed and stripped to nothing without a care whilst looking at him.

"M-my Lady!" Cullen stuttered, she rolled her eyes. But didn't turn away.

"Have you ever seen a naked woman before ser knight?" Her tone was light. But he couldn't tell if she was jesting or not. He wanted to answer of course he had but didn't want to give her the satisfaction. They dressed in silence. Sunny left the room first. After Cullen had sorted some packing for his journey, he made his way to the mess hall. He scanned the room to find that Sunny wasn't in there. And decided to take his pack down to the docks and then come back up to eat. As the Sun rose, the light bouncing off the water shimmering like fire on the water. He noticed someone was waiting on the docks. Her hair also looked like it was flaming in the rising sun. A soft breeze flowing through it. She was beautiful.

"Are you not going to break your fast with us, My Lady?" he spoke, his voice a lot softer than he expected from himself and cleared his throat.

"I'm not a Lady." Sunny hadn't turned to him, her eyes glued to the water, it was breath taking, in all her years she still found sights like this and couldn't bear to turn away from them. "Call me Sunny. And… I thought you would want me out of here as soon as possible. I didn't want to overstay my welcome, after upsetting you this morning."

"I … I wasn't upset. At least eat a small meal before you go. I will be leaving soon to make my way to Denerim, we can pack some provisions and take the boat together." he offered.
She turned to him now, her eyes fixed on him, they seemed to shine brighter this morning, the green more vibrant. The sun shone through her hair, illuminating her. He watched as she chewed her lip, thinking over his proposal.

"Alright, Knight Templar, thank you." she smiled.

"Just, call me Cullen." he found he returned the smile, truthfully.